Back to School

2018

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B A C K T O S C H O O L , M U S I C & D A N C E … A N D M O R E ! - S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S - T H U R S D A Y, A U G U S T 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 3 guitar | bass | piano | drums | vocals | violin | ukulele | mandolin In-home lessons available Regular full time lesson spots or 2 month trials custommusiclessons.com CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION info@custommusiclessons.com 989.2223 | 298.8777 Come and learn a life sport that increases focus, relieves stress and keeps you in shape! ST VITAL/SOUTHDALE GREENDELL C.C. monyschak@hotmail.com 204.256.0360 ELMWOOD/EAST KILDONAN VALLEY GARDENS C.C. danielstkd2018@gmail.com 204.330.5467 www.premiertaekwondo.ca Kids and adults welcome! Fall Regisati On N! Selkirk, MB Open House Ballet | Tap | Jazz | Hip Hop | Musical Theatre | Lyrical | Adult Classes Pre-School Programs: Two's & You; Creative Movement; Pre-Dance Ages 2 - Adult August 29th 5 - 8pm Selkirk Town Plaza 200 - 366 Main Street SELKIRK MB | 204.785.1285 | www.EvolutionDance.ca ONLY 20 MINUTES NORTH OF WINNIPEG! Ballet | Tap | Jazz | Hip Hop | Musical Theatre | Lyrical | Adult Classes Pre-School Programs: Two's & You; Creative Movement; Pre-Dance Ages 2 - Adult Open House August 28th 5 - 8pm Selkirk Town Plaza 200 - 366 Main Street SELKIRK MB | 204.785.1285 | www.EvolutionDance.ca ONLY 20 MINUTES NORTH OF WINNIPEG! ★ ★ Register For Music Lessons Today. Music lessons for all ages, stages, and styles. Professional instructors make learning fun. Convenient lesson times for busy families. No registration fees. Affordable instrument rentals. Why Choose Long & McQuade? Piano • Guitar • Drums • Strings • Brass • & more! 1845 Pembina Highway (204) 284-5180 winnipeglessons@long-mcquade.com CALL, TEXT OR EMAIL! lessons available 7 days a week For Buffy Handel, owner and president of the Aboriginal School of Dance, she learned from elders that it's essential to make room for younger generations. Embracing this idea, Handel opened a venue for youth to learn traditional and structured concepts of dance. "The scope and the scale of the Aboriginal School of Dance started as a basic dance instructing environment. It's managed to grow, breaking down into three different sections: education, entertainment and in-house training," says Handel, a professional performer who also co-ordinates the First Nations pavilion for Folklorama. "Everyone is looking for Indigenous entertainment, so I train these young Indigenous students to become professional performers. We also hire our own students, so that provides an employment aspect," she says. "For the ones that have been involved in our program, 95 per cent have successful employment as they get a little bit older because they are learning discipline through culture. A lot of them have gone on to have very successful careers in other areas, but the strongest component seems to be that they have been trained culturally." In addition, the Aboriginal School of Dance provides programs and instruction in 13 different school divisions. "All that programming is based on knowing what works through our in-house training," she says. "For things that would work well academically, we then transfer that information to our education section of the Aboriginal School of Dance." The dance school provides training for both males and females of all ages. Children in care make up more than half the student base. "We're also trying to include both Indigenous and non-Indigenous foster parents so they understand that they are part of this process and growth for the individual children," Handel says. "We offer a beading and crafting class at the same time as the children are training so parents can actually help create the regalia for them." The dance classes are also open to participants from non-Indigenous backgrounds, based on an assessment by the dance school. "We try to be a catalyst for multiculturalism," Handel says. "That is not to dilute the culture but rather enhance the reasons why our culture should be respected." Creating another cultural connection, Ana Lopez launched a children's program through Salsa Explosion Dance Company about four years ago. Since then, its popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. "In the beginning, I picked out four kids for a performance and then I noticed that parents were interested," Lopez says. "It was the first school to ever offer salsa for kids in the city." The program has expanded to include four levels for different age groups, geared for kids aged three to 13, as well as a competitive program. "I find that it really opens up the kids a little bit more because it is Latin dance style. They get to listen to Spanish music so they catch on to words. By then end of the class, they recognize songs and they're saying some Spanish words, which is really nice to see," Lopez says. "Also, once they start getting older, they learn At Kindermusik Discovery, instructors provide music and movement classes for wee ones starting at birth up to age seven. Through a combination of singing, creative movement and age-appropriate instrument use, the young musicians can indulge in the joy of self-expression. "We provide an opportunity for a parent and child to come together for the experience of making music together. The program grows with them as they grow and develop and are ready for new challenges," says studio director and owner Nancy Aasland. "With our babies, we're dancing with them in our arms. It's all geared to engaging as many of their senses as possible in the experience. Our pre-schoolers start to move into a really imaginative phase. With our oldest kids, we're teaching them to read music and to play songs on pre-keyboard, string and woodwind instruments." By learning about music, children develop math and language skills while also experiencing emotional and social growth — and much more. "Music education prepares their little brains for learning pretty much anything across any learning domain. Even if they're going to go into sport or dance, the brain training that you get from early music experience is wonderful for that too," Aasland says. "It's the most amazing thing to watch the changes that come, especially when they're really small because they grow and develop so quickly right before your eyes. Creativity is one of the most important things that we can nurture in our children." In September, Kindermusik Discovery will double its Winnipeg-based locations from three to six, including a new one that will be housed in the inter-generational setting of Lindenwoods Manor. "In the last couple of years, there's been so much attention about the benefits for seniors of having little ones around, as well as benefits for the little ones of seeing the seniors," Aasland says. "We will be building in some opportunities for musical interaction, and we are really looking forward to the opportunity to bring the generations together." Striking a similar chord, Music for Young Continued on Page 3 >> By Jennifer McFee | Winnipeg Free Press Early childhood music lessons can start kids off on the right note for full-scale enrichment. "Music education prepares their little brains for learning pretty much anything across any learning domain." to partner up so the boys and girls lose that fear of dancing together." In the early days of the program, most of the participants came from Latin roots. Today, the classes continue to thrive with participation from kids of all backgrounds. "I get them to perform a little recital at the studio, and we also host the Winnipeg International Salsa Congress so they get to see the performance and the social dancing," Lopez says. "It exposes them to what the salsa world is really like. It's a lot of fun." At the Ethio-Canadian Cultural Academy Inc. (ECCAI), children and youth aged four to 24 can learn Ethiopian-based cultural dancing as well as music, math and language skills. "Through dance, we can connect with the kids so that they enjoy learning," says president Yalem Beyene. "With dancing and music, they are able to learn faster than just talking or lecturing. They have fun but they can learn and know both the Canadian and Ethiopian cultures." The organization's mission is to provide opportunities for new immigrant children and youth so they can improve their grades and behaviour, share experiences, learn from each other and connect with new friends. The programs, which run from beginner to advanced levels, are available at no cost to anyone who is interested regardless of cultural background. "The organization also gives troubled youth a way out of bad influences," Beyene adds. "Our goal at ECCAI is to foster a lifelong love of learning and help future generations for success in a variety of life settings." ❚ By Jennifer McFee | Winnipeg Free Press Dance classes offer a lively opportunity for youngsters to step up and create cultural connections. "We try to be a catalyst for multiculturalism. That is not to dilute the culture but rather enhance the reasons why our culture should be respected." Children are eager to learn about music from an early age. PHOTO COURTESY OF KINDERMUSIK DISCOVERY Kids can connect to different cultures through dance classes, including those offered at Salsa Explosion Dance Company, Aboriginal School of Dance and Ethio-Canadian Cultural Academy Inc. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

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